Low profile veggies, high profile nutrition

All the attention paid to glamour foods, like the exotic pomegranate or acai, may lead you to believe that” It’s the sizzle not the steak”, but I assure you the most boring sounding vegetables contain some of the highest quality calories on earth.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the glamour foods, just don’t overlook the staples and always supplement with a high quality multi vitamin.

If you can discipline yourself whenever possible to maintain healthy eating habits you’ll, by all means, reap many rewards.  Here are some examples of “low profile” veggies that are probably already part of your menu.  You may be surprised by their high quality nutritional value if they’re prepared without a lot of added salt and high fat sauces.

PEAS-These tiny spheres are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two powerful antioxidants that guard your vision against age related deterioration.  Low in calories and high in vitamins B and C, not to mention a great source of fiber, you’d do well to add them as a frequent side dish.  Note that there’s a world of difference between canned and fresh and at just over 100 calories a cup you get a high quality nutrition that also contains minerals like iron, potassium and manganese.

MUSHROOMS- The non-descript white buttons pack a lot of phytonutrients, B and D vitamins, as well as minerals like zinc and potassium.  No need trade up to the more expensive exotics like maitakes and shitakes since the unassuming white button provides as much or more antioxidant power.

POTATOES-the absolute most popular vegetable in the US in the form of French fries, chips or doused in butter and sour cream, but if you strip them bare and serve them naked, they’re highly nutritious.  The humble tuber is full of vitamins B6 and C, phytonutrients, potassium and fiber, and don’t overlook the fact that they’re a very filling, satiating food.

CORN-Corn has been unfairly persecuted due to all the bad press on high-fructose corn syrup but unprocessed corn in its natural state prevents the sugar from being absorbed to rapidly by the body and causing the blood sugar roller coaster. If we measure whole grains, like corn by the amount of antioxidant compounds available nutritionally in bound form, corn provides greater than twice the antioxidant value of spinach and broccoli. Surprised?

KIDNEY BEANS-often buried in bean salads and soups, these lentils are like eating a mini-health food store in every bite. Consuming more beans is associated with as much as an 80 percent risk reduction in death from coronary disease as well as a steady state slow release of complex carbs. You can almost achieve the protein content of red meat by combining kidney beans with whole grains.

I’m a huge fan of Mother Nature, the most powerful pharmacy know to man, but there’s hope for those of us who slip up from time to time and don’t fit healthy foods into our busy schedule.  The answer is Dr. Dave’s Best Monster Multi.  For those of us who are human and sometimes falter in our best intentions, this natural supplement will help protect and maintain our glowing health and vitality.